Album

This is a superior production from the Quebec historical-performance ensemble Les Violons du Roy and conductor Bernard Labadie. The music on the disc is for soloists and orchestra: soprano and alto in the case of "Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden, BWV 1083," with the alto part sung here by countertenor Daniel Taylor, and a soprano solo in the famed Cantata No. 82, "Ich habe genug," BWV 82. The pairing of works holds enduring interest. "Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden is an adaptation of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's Stabat Mater," fitted to a German-language version of Psalm 51. It's somewhat unusual among Bach's experiments with Italian music—in transferring Vivaldi to the organ you encounter some of Bach's architectural thinking in the ways he makes the transition, but here you encounter Bach's fascination with Italian melody in something like pure form. Labadie's conducting, in addition to the superbly coordinated articulation he coaxes from his players, differentiates attractively between the two works. In the Pergolesi adaptation he holds the orchestra well in check—almost too much in check, you think, until the singers start and you realize that he is giving them room to work. The contrast between Taylor's wire-like pitch control and the lush voice of soprano Karina Gauvin offers many chilling moments. In "Ich habe genug," Labadie gives the orchestra a more assertive if still quiet role, lingering on the dark pools of resolving dissonances with which Bach symbolizes the depth of the faithful soul's contentment. Gauvin emerges as a soloist on par with any of the European singers specializing in this music, and the Super Audio sound (auditioned on a good conventional stereo) catches impressive detail in a performance that resides at low dynamic levels throughout.

© James Manheim, Rovi

CD 1
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden (parody cantata after Pergolesi), BWV1083 Work 35:05 Les Violons du Roy Ensemble, Bernard Labadie Conductor, Karina Gauvin Soprano, Daniel Taylor Countertenor
1	Versus 1: Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden	3:35			$0.99
2	Versus 2: Ist mein Herz in Missetaten	1:59			$0.99
3	Versus 3: Missetaten, die mich drücken	1:57			$0.99
4	Versus 4: Dich erzürnt mein Tun und Lassen	1:58			$0.99
5	Versus 5-6: Wer wird seine Schuld verneinen	1:55			$0.99
6	Versus 7: Siehe! ich bin in Sünd empfanger	0:35			$0.99
7	Versus 8: Sieh, du willst die Wahrheit haben	3:37			$0.99
8	Versus 9: Wasche mich doch rein von Sünden	2:07			$0.99
9	Versus 10: Lass mich Freud und Wonne spüren	2:11			$0.99
10	Versus 11-15: Shaaue nicht auf meine Sünden	4:50			$0.99
11	Versus 16: Öffne Lippen, Mund und Seele	3:19			$0.99
12	Versus 17-18: Denn du willst kein Opfer haben	3:15			$0.99
13	Versus 19: Lass dein Zion blühend dauern	1:56			$0.99
14	Versus 20: Amen	1:51			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Cantata No.82: Ich habe genug (Purification), BWV82 Work 21:40 Les Violons du Roy Ensemble, Bernard Labadie Conductor, Karina Gauvin Soprano, Daniel Taylor Countertenor
15	1.Aria (Bass): Ich habe genung, ich habe den Heiland	7:16			$1.49
16	2.Recitative (Bass): Ich habe genung! Mein Trost ist nur allein	1:07			$0.99
17	3.Aria (Bass): Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen	9:12			$1.49
18	4.Recitative (Bass): Mein Gott! wenn kömmt das schöne: Nun!	0:43			$0.99
19	5.Aria (Bass): Ich freue mich auf meinen Tod	3:22			$0.99